Ann and Larry are joined by Woodbine Apprentice Jockey Fraser Aebly, who discusses his first win at Woodbine and how it was also his initial time riding on a turf course. Fraser also talks about how it felt special having both of his parents present at Woodbine to watch him win and talks about his agent Gerry Olguin, who was instrumental in convincing him to leave Hastings Park in Vancouver and ride at the bigger Woodbine track. He also mentions some of his goals for the 2024 season and how he is staying in shape in the off season. Former Woodbine Jockey Sheena Ryan, who talks about her riding career and the last training incident in 2022 which virtually ended her career as a Jockey for good. Sheena also talks about what she will be doing as a career choice moving forward and talks about how she continues to rehab from the 2022 riding accident. Standardbred Driver Bob McClure, who is currently on the sidelines because of an off-track accident and what he is doing to keep himself busy right now as he recuperates from the injury. Bob also talks about the horse who he believes will win tonight’s O’Brien Award for Horse of the Year that being Sylvia Hanover and what it was that made her a special racehorse. He also talks about some of the younger racing stock that he was fortunate to drive in 2023 and how he is looking forward to driving them when the stakes season begins in late Spring.; In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry talks about the recent news that shortly there will be no live horse racing in the state of Michigan and also mentions some of the Kentucky Derby Points races being held today at three US tracks. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today.
Key Points:
Fraser talks first about his first win at Woodbine where he rode the filly Lulu’s Lullaby to victory on the Woodbine Turf Course and how this was also the first time that he rode over a grass surface. Fraser also mentions how having his parents at Woodbine that day to watch him win was extra special and adds that they drove from Vancouver to Toronto to be at trackside. He also talks about the considerable influence that his agent Gerry Olguin has had on his career so far, not only convincing him to leave Vancouver to ride here, but also continuing to work with him to make him a better rider. Fraser also talks about some of the goals that he has set for himself in 2024 and how he would like to better the sixteen wins that he had at Woodbine last season. He also states why it was important for him to move his tack to Woodbine and how a couple of Woodbine Jockeys helped make him feel more comfortable when he got here and mentions what it felt like going through the Woodbine tunnel onto the racetrack for the first time. Fraser also talks about how he is staying in shape as he waits for the Woodbine meet to begin in late April.
Sheena talks about the riding accident that virtually ended her riding career and how she continues to rehab because of the injuries that occurred in the 2022 training accident. She also talks about the horse that fell during the training session and whether she has any animosity towards it and discusses what her plans are now for her new career as she is officially retired from race riding and how these plans were supported by her family , who have been there for her during the tough times of the past few years. Sheena also mentions that she will still be involved in horse racing in some form and continue as a Yoga instructor and gives out some contact information in case any of our listeners are interested in finding out more about what she is doing now. Sheena also discusses how she will always remain a part of the Thoroughbred industry and mentions some of the top horses that she felt fortunate to ride throughout her career. She also talks about what advice she would give a young person who may want to become a Jockey.
Bob discusses why he is on the shelf from an off-track injury and how he is mending well and hopes to be back on the track sometime in April. He also talks about Sylvia Hanover and how he believes she should win the O’Brien Award tonight for Standardbred Horse of the Year and mentions why Sylvia Hanover is a special horse that he has been fortunate to drive. He also talks about what winning an O’Brien Award meant not only to his driving career, but himself personally and discusses how he has a love/hate relationship with his fellow Drivers. Bob also talks about his 2023 driving season and some of the younger horses that he got to drive and how he is looking forward to driving them again this year when the stakes season begins and states that once he is back driving again , he would like to get back to driving more especially at the smaller tracks over the Summer.
